Warren Buffett-backed BYD EV manufacturer announces new shock absorption technology

It is believed that the electric vehicle giant BYD is hoping to take advantage of new driver-assist technologies to smooth out car rides and gain an edge over its EV competitors.

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Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is backing carmaker BYD, which announced Monday a new technological system for stabilizing car rides through rugged terrain, sharp turns, and even shallow water. Yangwang, the company's recently launched premium brand, is set to have shock absorption technology as part of the product offering.

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"In China, luxury cars are traditionally defined by brand and history, but for luxury new energy vehicles, it is all about the technology and products used to create them," according to a translation of the speech made by BYD founder Wang Chuanfu at a launch event on Monday.

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In his words, the technology that he claimed to have developed represents a “breakthrough” that “leads and surpasses foreign technological level.”

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Several Chinese car companies are set to announce new products and models at the Shanghai Auto Show, which starts next week, which will be a platform for them to debut new products.

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This new tech system uses the same "lidar" sensors that are used in assisted driving, according to BYD, which is short for light detection and ranging, a technique that uses lasers to create detailed maps of the surroundings.

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As it was stated in a press release from the automaker, their new “DiSus” system “provides a foundation for the future development of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).”

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There has been a relatively cautious approach taken by the company when it comes to the technology behind self-driving cars.

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During a conference call with investors in late March, BYD management responded to a question about "smart driving" in which it explained that autonomous driving still faces the challenge of determining liability in the event of an accident. Despite this, management said that advanced assisted driving technology has the potential to increase overall safety in the future. The information comes from the filing of last month's conference call, which can be accessed through the Wind Information database.

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A large number of automobile manufacturers have been trying to maintain a balance between ambitious driver-assist systems and measured safety standards. EV leader Tesla in February recalled more than 360,000 cars over a software program it said was designed to assist drivers on city streets that could cause accidents.

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Tesla drivers in China do not have access to the city-assisted driving software that is available in the US.

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There was no immediate indication as to how Tesla's new shock-absorbent features would compare to BYD's, but other car companies in China may be looking into similar technology in the future.

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In September, Nio’s investment fund Nio Capital led a $39 million financing round into Boston-based ClearMotion, which develops software for active suspension.

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Many details still unknown

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The BYD CEO did not provide any details regarding the cost to use the company's new DiSus system or the date by which it would be made widely available.

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Daimler has a small stake in BYD's Denza brand and is also involved in several other BYD projects. Yangwang's U8 SUV and the Denza N7 SUV are two of the compatible vehicles that have not been released for sale yet.

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YD announced that some of its current Han, Tang, and Denza models are set to receive the new technology via an over-the-air update in the near future.

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Currently, BYD is offering three types of the new system - the "damping" system, the "air" system, and the "hydraulic" system - where each one will be integrated with a specific model.

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As a result of the first quarter's sales, BYD has sold 264,647 all-electric passenger cars, an increase of more than 80% over last year. Hybrid passenger vehicle sales, meanwhile, doubled from a year ago to 283,270 vehicles.

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For its part, Tesla says it delivered more than 422,000 cars worldwide in the first quarter, without providing any breakdown by region. China, for example, typically accounts for well over 20% of Tesla's revenue.